LIVINGSTON MANOR, N.Y. — A raccoon found in the Town of Rockland has tested positive for rabies, the Sullivan County Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday.
It marks the fourth case this year in which a person was exposed to a rabid animal in the county — incidents that represent only the animals tested after direct human contact.
Rabies is widespread in New York, particularly among raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks and woodchucks. Public health officials warn that avoiding interaction with wild animals remains the most effective way to prevent infection. Symptoms of rabies in wildlife can include aggression, unusual friendliness toward humans, loss of coordination, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and drooling or foaming at the mouth.
The county said it is working to schedule another free rabies vaccination clinic in the Livingston Manor area. Updates will be posted on the county website and shared with local media.
Officials urged residents to take precautions to reduce risk:
- Avoid all physical contact with wild animals. Rabies is fatal without prompt treatment.
- Ensure pets are current on rabies vaccinations, and keep unvaccinated young animals indoors.
- Do not intervene in animal fights. Wear gloves if handling a pet afterward.
- Keep pets inside at night and do not allow them to roam freely.
- Eliminate potential food sources that attract wild animals — including securing garbage, storing bird seed, and feeding pets indoors.
- Do not feed, touch or take in wild animals or stray dogs and cats.
Anyone who is bitten by an animal — or who has contact with a wild animal — should immediately notify the county’s Public Health Department at 845-292-5910. Officials also advise not allowing the animal to escape, if it can be done safely, so it can be tested.
Bats can be especially difficult to keep out of homes, and their bites may go unnoticed due to their small teeth, health officials said.
More information is available by contacting the county’s Disease Surveillance and Investigation Department at 845-292-5910 or by visiting sullivanny.gov/publichealth/epidemiology.